Internet : Intranets

Some companies want to provide facilities similar to those available on the Internet on a private network that is not connected to the Internet. For example a company might want to :

• Provide internal email without allowing users to send or receive Internet email that could contain viruses.
• Put confidential information on a web site that can only be accessed by people within a company such as contact details for employees or sales data.

A private network within a company that provides facilities such as web sites and email is known as an Intranet. A company may choose to connect its Intranet to the Internet through a firewall to protect the computers on the Intranet.

GCSE ICT Companion 04 - (C) P Meakin 2004